Kevin Costner announced he won’t be continuing with Yellowstone beyond the current season.
“I just want to reach out and let you know that after this long year and a half of working on Horizon and doing all of the things that’s required, and thinking about Yellowstone, that beloved series that I love and I know you love,” Costner said in a video shared via X late Thursday, June 20.
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He continued, “I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future. It was something that really changed me. I loved it. And I know you loved it. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be returning. I love the relationship we’ve been able to develop, and I’ll see you at the movies.”
Costner confirmed his exit from Yellowstone shortly after Paramount Network revealed the final episodes’ premiere date. The first half of season 5 ended in January 2023. Costner’s status for the second half remains uncertain as he wasn’t mentioned in Paramount’s recent announcement. He clarified his departure wasn’t due to conflicts with the show’s creator or his busy schedule with the Horizon saga.
I have taken a beating from those f–king guys and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from,” he told Deadline last month of the rumors. “I just elected not to get into that. But if you know me well enough, I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did.”
Costner revealed that he departed Yellowstone as per the production’s needs, even though it was challenging for him. He left early to assist in completing the first eight episodes of season 5B. Despite the behind-the-scenes challenges, Costner expressed his willingness to return to the role of John Dutton if he liked the story direction. He mentioned during an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings that he fulfilled his contractual obligations with Yellowstone.
